Bromsgrove raises the Commonwealth flag for the first time

RESIDENTS and representatives from Bromsgrove District Council and the armed forces gathered at the Council House on Monday (March 10) as the town marked Commonwealth Day for the first time.

Bromsgrove, along with other authorities up and down the country, raised the Commonwealth flag at its headquarters after the town's civic head Coun Helen Jones addressed the crowd.

In her speech she spoke about the members of the one Commonwealth community joining together.

"We raise this flag as a symbol of the ties of friendship we cherish, affirming our kinship and common purpose in building for the future towards shared goals of development and democracy, and commit ourselves afresh to working alongside one another in a spirit of respect and understanding, exploring new ideas and rising to fresh challenges with all our sisters and brothers, wherever we may live, learn or work," she added.

Patrick Smith, the chairman of the Bromsgrove branch of the Royal British Legion, said: "It's a nice concept - it's a shame there wasn't more people present.

"The Commonwealth often gets overlooked while everybody is talking about the EU.

"More definitely needs to be done to celebrate the Commonwealth," he added.

* THERE were also members of the Mercian Volunteers Association at the Commonwealth Day celebration.

The Mercian Volunteers are always looking for old members from the regiment to come forward.

The group's chairman Graham Bird said: "We'd love to hear from anyone who remembers the days of the Bromsgrove Drill Hall and Sgt Keith Blackburn.

"We meet on the first Sunday of the month at the Kidderminster TA Centre, which is formerly the drill hall."

Anyone who wants to get in touch with Graham can email grahamwardbird@hotmail.com or call him on 01562 632154.

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More than 30 people turned out for the Commonwealth Day flag raising. Picture by Tristan Harris.

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Residents and representatives gathered for the first ever raising of a flag on Commonwealth Day. Picture by Tristan Harris.